10 Stylish Wedding Venues in Canberra
In the planning stage of your wedding and looking for some Canberra Wedding Venues that have a bit of style and character? Keep reading for a rundown of some of the best wedding venue options for your outdoor wedding, small wedding, or weddings with a larger guest list.
Outdoor weddings
Senate Rose Gardens
The Senate Rose Gardens, located within the Old Parliament House Gardens in Canberra, is designed in a classic English garden style. This stunning venue features beautifully manicured lawns, patterned rose beds, and charming pergolas. The gardens are split into two main sections: the Broinowski Rose Garden, which showcases shrub roses, and the Rex Hazlewood Rose Garden, which includes a variety of roses with an Asian and European history.
The manicured lawns and hedges make it a lush background all year round, however, if you are there for the roses, I would recommend booking it around November.
2. Grazing Gundaroo
Set in the heart of Gundaroo, just a short drive from Canberra, Grazing Gundaroo offers a picturesque outdoor venue for your wedding day. The ceremony location is under the canopy of weeping willows in the gardens next to the beautifully restored 1965 hotel.
The Stone Room is used for wedding receptions, featuring cathedral ceilings, polished concrete floors, and large windows. The Stone Room can accommodate up to 110 seated guests or 200 for a cocktail-style reception, making it ideal for both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations. There are smaller dining spaces that can be used for more smaller receptions and micro weddings.
3. NGA Sculpture Garden
The National Gallery of Australia's Sculpture Garden offers a unique range of outdoor ceremony locations for lovers of nature and art. The NGA Sculpture Garden features incredible sculptural works where couples can exchange their vows- including Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North, The Beach, nestled within a casuarina forest with a peaceful reed pond, and The Knot, named after Clement Meadmore's sculpture Virginia (The Knot).
The lush Fern Garden by artist Fiona Hall provides an intimate natural environment, while James Turrell's Skyspace, known as 'Within without,' offers an immersive experience with its focus on the interplay of light and space.
Intimate Weddings
4. Muse Bookstore
If I had my time again, I would probably get married in bookstore. My inner nerdy bookworm finds the idea of being surrounded by literature on a wedding day ridiculously romantic.
The space is designed by architect Anthony Gill and features both a perfectly curated book collection as well as an award winning fine dining restaurant. The venue can accommodate small to medium-sized gatherings.
5. Parlour Room
Parlour Wine Room, located in the heart of Canberra's iconic New Acton precinct, is one of my favourite wedding venues for intimate weddings. Housed in the historic 1927 Hotel Acton, Parlour oozes old-world charm with it’s Art Deco touches and that amazing green wall. Ceremonies are held inside Parlour Room restaurant or in the adjacent John Avery gardens.
Parlour Dining Room can accommodate a variety of wedding styles, from intimate sit-down dinners to cocktail receptions.
6. High Jinks
High Jinks is a 1920s speakeasy style bar in the basement of a heritage building - right underneath Parlour Wine Room. With it’s Art Deco and jazz age interior and electic art on the walls, it’s a fun location for a cosy reception. Perfect reception space for a microwedding. This is not your typical wedding venue and I love that.
7. Old Mount Stromlo Observatory
The Old Stromlo Observatory is a really interesting space to have a wedding ceremony. It is a circular building without a ceiling and features gorgeous distressed white and pink walls with exposed brickwork. A favourite place for both portrait sessions and wedding ceremonies.
The view from the hill is just incredible. Situated on Mount Stromlo, the observatory provides stunning panoramic views of the Brindabella Mountains and the Canberra skyline.
8. HQ Thirtyfour
HQ Thirtyfour is a restored timber warehouse space in Fyshwick. It's a cosy blank canvas venue with industrial vibes. The venue's distinctive spaces include an upstairs area filled with natural light, featuring black steel beams and eggshell-painted brick walls, and a cozy downstairs area with high ceilings and arched windows.
The intimate HQ Thirtyfour space feels perfect for a small wedding but can actually accommodate up to 100 upstairs.
Large wedding venues
9. Poachers Pantry
Poachers Pantry, located just 25 minutes from Canberra in the scenic countryside of Hall, New South Wales.
One of the larger ceremony spots is the Homestead Lawn, where vows are exchanged under the spreading boughs of a beautiful golden elm tree. There are lots of portrait locations for exploring, and I recommend getting hands on a 4WD if you like the idea of hill top adventures. The Garden Marquee is great for a larger wedding reception - this elegant, fully draped marquee can host up to 240 seated guests, and is a great blank space to fill with floral styling.
10. Gandal Hall
Gandel Hall at the National Gallery of Australia is an elegant option for a large group reception venue. This light-filled hall features grand gold-leaf doors, beautiful red ironbark floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto the Australian Garden Terrace, providing stunning views of the sculptures and landscaped gardens (National
The hall's spacious design accommodates up to 350 seated guests. Guests can enjoy pre-drinks on the terrace, taking in the tranquil surroundings and the adjacent Skyspace by James Turrell
Frequently asked questions
What are the best venues for small and intimate weddings in Canberra?
See this blog post post on small wedding venues.
How far in advance should we book a wedding venue?
It is recommended to book at least 12 months in advance if you have a specific date, 9 months in advance if you are flexible with dates.
What is the average cost of hiring a wedding venue in Canberra?
Costs typically range from $150 to $225 per person, depending on the venue, catering options, and additional services required.
Do wedding venues in Canberra offer all-inclusive packages?
Yes, many venues, such as Poachers Pantry, Gandal Hall / NGA, The Boatshed, Muse Bookstore, and Parlour Room offer all-inclusive packages that cover venue hire, catering, and other essential services.
Can we have both the ceremony and reception at the same venue?
Absolutely. The venues above all allow for this.
What types of wedding styles are popular in Canberra?
From rustic and vintage at Yarralumla Woolshed to elegant and sophisticated at The Boat House, Canberra venues cater to various wedding styles.